Al Qaeda Has 'Camped' in West Bank, Gaza

Mahmoud Abbas, chairman of the Palestinian Authority, told an Arabian newspaper that he is in possession of proof that al-Qaeda cells have infiltrated the West Bank and Gaza regions and they are operating there.

"If they succeeded in infiltrating in such a way, and if no one watches over them, the result could be disastrous for the entire region. The last piece of information I received on the subject was three days ago, but we still have not been able to lay our hands on the operatives," he stated.

The infiltration of al-Qaeda can be damaging for the entire region. Israel, which withdrew from Gaza in September, warned about the operations and arrested a Palestinian citizen suspected of working with the group.

Yair Naveh, Maj.-Gen. in the OC Central Command, reported last week that Jihad and al-Qaeda cells are making efforts to infiltrate Israel and are in close contact with Palestinian terror cells. "We recently caught several local terror cells that were in touch with the international Global Jihad based in Jordan."

Jordan, as he stated, should be concerned with the takeover of the Palestinian Authority by Hamas. "Hamas is gathering strength and a dangerous axis starting in Iran, continuing through Iraq and Jordan is in the process of conception. I don't want to be a prophet but I am not sure there will be another king after King Abdullah", Naveh asserted.

The Israeli Defence Forces reported in the past attempts by al- Qaeda to infiltrate the Gaza Strip, but this is the first time when they announced that they are collaborating with international terror organizations.